'Kevin Can Wait' fires Erinn Hayes, Leah Remini joins cast

Leah Remini and Kevin James on "Kevin Can Wait." (CBS)

A major casting shake-up is taking place on the CBS sitcom "Kevin Can Wait." Kevin James' current TV wife on the show Erinn Hayes revealed on Twitter that she has been "let go" from the show and Leah Remini, who starred alongside James on "The King of Queens" for nine seasons revealed she has signed on for "Kevin Can Wait."

Hayes played Kevin’s wife Donna throughout Season 1.

"It's simply a matter of the show going in a different creative direction," a rep for CBS told Fox News via email.

LEAH REMINI AND KEVIN JAM...S' REUNION

Following the news of the 41-year-old's departure, Remini confirmed she'd be joining the show. She's previously guest starred on the series.

The 46-year-old will be reprising her role as undercover cop Vanessa Cellucci in the fall.

James and Remini starred as an on-screen couple on “The King of Queens.” The sitcom ran in the same timeslot as “Kevin Can Wait," also on CBS, from 1998 until 2007.

[Edited 6/5/17 19:46pm]

Very cool to hear! Used to love that show, all they need now is to bring back Jerry Stiller.

I gave this show six episodes and saw no improvement. Pass

Hudson said:

I gave this show six episodes and saw no improvement. Pass

I agree. Awful! And it's kinda shitty to let the orignal wife go and move Leah Remini in. But I guess that's Hollywood.

P.S. I've never liked Kevin James since I heard that in real life he's a jerk, and before coming into a restaraunt his people go in and tell everyone not to bother him or make eye contact. douchebag.

Superfan1984 said:

Hudson said:

I gave this show six episodes and saw no improvement. Pass

I agree. Awful! And it's kinda shitty to let the orignal wife go and move Leah Remini in. But I guess that's Hollywood.

P.S. I've never liked Kevin James since I heard that in real life he's a jerk, and before coming into a restaraunt his people go in and tell everyone not to bother him or make eye contact. douchebag.

That's Hollywood

Hudson said:

I gave this show six episodes and saw no improvement. Pass

Maybe because fans wanted Leah Remini on the show??? I never seen Kevin can wait but I did like the chemistry of James and Remini on King of Queens together.

kpowers said:

Hudson said:

I gave this show six episodes and saw no improvement. Pass

Maybe because fans wanted Leah Remini on the show??? I never seen Kevin can wait but I did like the chemistry of James and Remini on King of Queens together.

First, the "I heard..." thing you have to take with a grain of salt. That could be second or third or fourth hand information.

As far as Kevin Can Wait, it's not a horrible show. I've seen a couple of random episodes. I did watch the 2-part season finale with Leah Remini. It was funny, and they do have great onscreen chemistry. She has always spoken glowingly of him during her King of Queens days in her Troublemaker book.

Frankly I'm glad she has a new job, plus her Scientology show on A&E (which I'm obsessed with). If anything, it shows the "church" how she's really not a has-been. Of course, they're bent on ruining her anyway, saying she hasn't had a significant career in 10 years, blah blah blah. They'd cut off their nose to spite their face, those people.

I watched an episode of the new show, didn't interest me because it was basically the KofQ with kids. I liked the KofQ but it seems like it's time to move on. But I here the ratings are very good so somebody is liking it.

ratings weren't that good. They had to bring Leah Remini back to get some.

great news

Oh yeah I did see one of her specials on Sciencentology, is she having issues behind all that?

Since it's a CBS show I wonder if Leah will go on the Talk to promote the show

[Edited 6/6/17 13:38pm]

They replaced her with this desperate, perverted, undersexed Joe Paterno supporter. I'd never go back.

Hudson said:

They replaced her with this desperate, perverted, undersexed Joe Paterno supporter. I'd never go back.

She was good as little Richard

So what's going to happen with Kevin's wife in the season opener? Does she leave him?..Does she get killed off?..Does she join the Peace Corps?...Does Vanessa hookup with Kevin at the end of Season 2?.....I think the show is OK, but nowhere near as funny as "K.O.Q"....I guess we'll see in the fall.

SPYZFAN1 said:

So what's going to happen with Kevin's wife in the season opener? Does she leave him?..Does she get killed off?..Does she join the Peace Corps?...Does Vanessa hookup with Kevin at the end of Season 2?.....I think the show is OK, but nowhere near as funny as "K.O.Q"....I guess we'll see in the fall.

Kevin James wakes up from bed then see's Leah Remini in the shower. Turns out season 1 of Kevin can wait was just a dream and thus King of Queens season 10 begins

Pokeno4Money said:

Very cool to hear! Used to love that show, all they need now is to bring back Jerry Stiller.

Shades of "Dallas"?....lol. Leah in the shower?...Yes I can truly dig that!!

SPYZFAN1 said:

Shades of "Dallas"?....lol. Leah in the shower?...Yes I can truly dig that!!

hahaha not quite. She's not playing his wife. She's a cop or a private detective, and Kevin's character is a former cop turned security guard. The season finale had them reteaming for some special assignment she roped him into, but on the side she sorta says "God, why is he on this case, he's so worthless!" She's that sassy, no-nonsense cop whereas he's a big oaf.....you know, KOQ meets NYPD Blue. haha (Come to think of it, a ginger had a fat counterpart on that show, too!)

Anyway, I don't believe they'll be playing a couple. But they will be partners as cops. I bet he'll end up doing more side jobs for the police force or whatever he used to do, which puts him in situations with Remini's character.

TrivialPursuit said:

SPYZFAN1 said:

Shades of "Dallas"?....lol. Leah in the shower?...Yes I can truly dig that!!

hahaha not quite. She's not playing his wife. She's a cop or a private detective, and Kevin's character is a former cop turned security guard. The season finale had them reteaming for some special assignment she roped him into, but on the side she sorta says "God, why is he on this case, he's so worthless!" She's that sassy, no-nonsense cop whereas he's a big oaf.....you know, KOQ meets NYPD Blue. haha (Come to think of it, a ginger had a fat counterpart on that show, too!)

Anyway, I don't believe they'll be playing a couple. But they will be partners as cops. I bet he'll end up doing more side jobs for the police force or whatever he used to do, which puts him in situations with Remini's character.

Well, that might work then.